Anger

DEFINITION:

An emotional state characterized by opposition, frustration, resentment, outrage, irritation, hostility, or indignation arising from perceived injustice, obstruction, violation, threat, betrayal, unfairness, or harm.

FUNCTION:

Mobilizes energy toward resistance, confrontation, correction, protection, boundary enforcement, retaliation, or attempts to change undesirable conditions.

EXAMPLES:

  • Moral outrage
  • Frustration
  • Resentment
  • Indignation
  • Rage
  • Irritation
  • Protest movements

RELATED SYMBOLS:

RELATED SYSTEMS:

NOTES:

Anger may arise from real or perceived violations. It can be constructive or destructive depending upon context, intensity, direction, interpretation, and expression. Anger may motivate reform, resistance, protection, retaliation, or conflict.

CONTROL TEXT OBSERVATION:

Emotions influence action by assigning significance to events. Anger functions as a mobilization mechanism that transforms perceived violations, threats, injustices, or frustrations into energy for response. By directing attention toward sources of opposition or harm, anger increases motivation to confront, resist, challenge, correct, punish, or transform conditions viewed as unacceptable.